State of Origin Game 3 result: NSW deny Queensland series sweep with 24-10 victory

Queensland has blown its chance to secure a long-awaited State of Origin sweep and deal NSW more pain, ending this year’s series with a bittersweet loss.

Queensland players celebrate a try during Game 3.

Queensland’s quest for a fifth Origin clean sweep will enter a 14th year after the Maroons fell 24-10 to the gutsy Blues in the Sydney series finale on Wednesday night.

The first Blue Rinse since 2010 wasn’t to be for Billy Slater’s young Maroons as NSW avoided total Origin embarrassment with a face-saving win in front of 75,342 at Accor Stadium.

The Maroons had a golden opportunity to secure the state’s fifth 3-0 domination after wrapping up the series in the opening two games.

But they fell short against a spirited NSW side that salvaged some pride in what has been a series otherwise dominated by Queensland.

Despite the loss, Slater has coached Queensland to back-to-back series wins and the future looks bright for the Maroons.

“It’s pretty simple – you get what you deserve in this game,” Slater said.

“That was very true tonight and this year in this series.

“I felt NSW deserved the game tonight. They played better than us in a lot of areas. We weren’t on our game in a lot of areas and they deserved the victory.

“I still feel this team deserves the series. The effort and football they played over the collective three games, Queensland deserve the series.”

NSW debutant Bradman Best celebrates one of his two tries.

WHITEWASH WOES

You only need to be a fraction off your best in an Origin game to be found out and from the opening exchanges it looked like Queensland wasn’t quite there.

The Maroons were on the back foot but David Fifita gave Queensland an early edge with the first try, however the bulldozing forward left the field midway through the first half and didn’t return until the game was gone.

With recalled five-eighth Cody Walker pulling the strings, the Blues found chinks in Queensland’s armour too easily and won the territory battle in the first half to open up an 18-10 lead.

It is hard to judge if the Maroons were complacent, but NSW played with more punch than they did in the first two games.

The Blues ran with more zip and put more into every tackle while their scramble defence was far better.

The Maroons didn’t play poorly by any means, however their performance wasn’t enough to get the job done against a Blues team that lifted a cog.

“I was part of a pretty successful era of Queensland and we did it once,” Slater said.

“The games are really close. They come down to moments and NSW owned more moments tonight.

“You’ve got to earn your footy every time you take the field.”

David Fifita’s early try was one of few bright spots for the Maroons.

BRIGHT MAROONS FUTURE

Slater has the nucleus of a special team at his disposal for years to come and would be mad to walk away from Queensland’s top job.

While captain Daly Cherry-Evans (34) and Ben Hunt (33) are nearing retirement, the rest of this team isn’t disappearing any time soon.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow once again showcased his freakish ability with a stunning solo try to keep the Maroons in the hunt.

Forwards Reuben Cotter, Pat Carrigan, Jeremiah Nanai, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Lindsay Collins and Fifita are just getting started.

Mal Meninga’s Maroons dynasty from 2006-15, in which Queensland won nine of 10 series, only registered one clean sweep (2010), losing 2007 and 2009 dead-rubbers.

Slater’s Maroons will learn a lot from this loss and Queensland could dominate Origin for years to come.

Cody Walker ran rings around the Maroons in his Origin return.

NO REECE, BIG WORRIES

The Maroons sorely missed gun fullback Reece Walsh.

Walsh was fantastic in the opening two games of the series, with his raw speed and ball-playing ability a crucial cog in Queensland’s attack.

Watching from the sidelines as he serves a three-game suspension, Walsh’s absence was there to see.

AJ Brimson did a solid job in the No. 1 jersey but he doesn’t boast the ball-playing skillset of Walsh and Queensland missed his attack out the back.

Walsh celebrated his 21st birthday this week but has paid the ultimate price for his referee explosion.

Reuben Cotter is crunched by Stephen Crichton.

RIGHT SIDE RAMPAGE

Queensland’s right side was ripped to shreds by Walker, who terrorized Nanai, Valentine Holmes and Xavier Coates, unlocking Blues winger Josh Addo-Carr in the process.

Addo-Carr’s 60m solo effort in the 20th minute will go down as one of the great Origin tries after he chipped over Brimson and regathered to score.

Queensland’s edge defence was near impenetrable in the opening two games, but they were nervous about Walker and paid for being timid.

“It looked like we were suffocated for a lot of the game,” Slater said.

“Their line speed, time on the ground, we just weren’t quite willing to earn what we earnt in the first two games.

“We put a lot of pressure on ourselves also. That compiles against you.”

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Originally published as State of Origin Game 3 result: NSW deny Queensland series sweep with 24-10 victory